Patent US3768855A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3768855A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Collapsible and expandable enclosure
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-08-28
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1992-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A collapsible and expandable enclosure is made of rigid panels. Two rectangular panels form the top and bottom. Other panels form side and end walls of sectional construction. The end walls are in two upper and lower rectangular sections which are hinged to each other on a horizontal axis and also to the end edges of the top and bottom. The side walls are in six sections, three upper and three lower. The center side wall sections are trapezoidal in shape and are hinged to the side edges of the top and bottom. The end side wall sections are in the shape of isosceles triangles and are hinged to adjacent end wall sections and also to adjacent center side wall sections. In the collapsed condition of the enclosure all the end and side wall sections are folded inwardly between the top and bottom. In the expanded condition the wall sections unfold outwardly, with the side wall sections being pulled outwardly automatically by their hinged connection with the end wall sections until the three upper and three lower side wall sections abut along a horizontal parting line.
Inventors
- 👤 J Laue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:13
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/32; B60P3/34; E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/343; E04B1/344; E04B1/3442; E04B1/345
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
301 words
A collapsible and expandable enclosure comprising: generally rectangular, generally coextensive, and generally parallel top and bottom members movable vertically apart from a closely-adjacent collapsed position to a spaced-apart expanded position, each of said members having associated therewith: a pair of generally rectangular end wall sections; a pair of generally trapezoidaL side wall main sections; and two pairs of generally triangular side wall end sections one for each end of each of said side wall main sections, the planar dimensions of the wall sections associated with one of the members being substantially the same as those of the corresponding wall sections associated with the other of said members, all of said sections being movable from collapsed positions between and generally parallel to said members, said end wall sections being hinged to the ends of their associated member for pivotal movement about parallel axis from said collapsed positions to expanded positions at an angle of at least 90* to said member, the end wall sections associated with one of said members being hinged to the corresponding end wall sections associated with the other of said members for relative pivotal movement about axes parallel to said first-mentioned axes, said side wall main sections being hinged to the sides of their associated member for pivotal movement about parallel axes from said collapsed positions to expanded positions at an angle of substantially 90* to said member, said side wall end sections each being generally in the shape of an isosceles triangle having its base hinged to the side of the adjacent end wall section and having one of its sides hinged to the end of the adjacent side wall main section for movement with said sections to which hinged from said collapsed position to an expanded position generally coplanar with said adjacent side wall main section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
301 words
A collapsible and expandable enclosure comprising: generally rectangular, generally coextensive, and generally parallel top and bottom members movable vertically apart from a closely-adjacent collapsed position to a spaced-apart expanded position, each of said members having associated therewith: a pair of generally rectangular end wall sections; a pair of generally trapezoidaL side wall main sections; and two pairs of generally triangular side wall end sections one for each end of each of said side wall main sections, the planar dimensions of the wall sections associated with one of the members being substantially the same as those of the corresponding wall sections associated with the other of said members, all of said sections being movable from collapsed positions between and generally parallel to said members, said end wall sections being hinged to the ends of their associated member for pivotal movement about parallel axis from said collapsed positions to expanded positions at an angle of at least 90* to said member, the end wall sections associated with one of said members being hinged to the corresponding end wall sections associated with the other of said members for relative pivotal movement about axes parallel to said first-mentioned axes, said side wall main sections being hinged to the sides of their associated member for pivotal movement about parallel axes from said collapsed positions to expanded positions at an angle of substantially 90* to said member, said side wall end sections each being generally in the shape of an isosceles triangle having its base hinged to the side of the adjacent end wall section and having one of its sides hinged to the end of the adjacent side wall main section for movement with said sections to which hinged from said collapsed position to an expanded position generally coplanar with said adjacent side wall main section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure defined in claim 1 including stop means operative when the end wall sections are in their expanded positions to maintain their said expanded angle of at least 90* with their associated member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure defined in claim 2 in which the stop means comprises abutting edges of a side wall section associated with one of said members and of the corresponding side wall section associated with the other of said members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure defined in claim 3 in which the end wall sections in their expanded positions are at an angle greater than 90* to their associated members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure defined in claim 1 in which the end wall sections in their expanded positions are at an angle greater than 90* to their corresponding members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure defined in claim 1 including actuator means connected to each two corresponding hingedly connected end wall sections for adjusting the angle there between to expand or collapse the enclosure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure defined in claim 6 including means for synchronizing the operation of both of the actuator means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The structure defined in claim 1 including spring means connected to each two hingedly connected end wall sections for yieldingly resisting relative angular movement therebetween from a neutral relative angular position between collapsed and expanded positions of said end wall sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure defined in claim 1 in which the enclosure is a mobile wheeled shelter adapted to travel in an endwise direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure defined in claim 1 in which the bottom member includes a peripheral upstanding fixed wall to which are hinged the end wall sections and side wall main sections associated with the bottom member to provide a stowage compartment beneath said sections when the enclosure is collapsed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The structure defined in claim 1 in which at least one of the members is provided with fixed sidewall portions along its opposite side extending between the associated end wall sections when the latter are in their collapsed positions to at least partially close peripheral gaps between the members when the enclosure is collapsed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
The structure defined in claim 1 in which at least one of the end wall sections hinged to the lower member is contoured intermediate its sides to define in its expanded position an exterior bulge and an interior recess having intersecting generally horizontaL and generally upright portions and the end wall section hinged to said one end wall section is complementarily contoured to conformingly interfit with said one end wall section when said sections are in their collapsed condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure defined in claim 1 in which the members and sections are formed of rigid material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure defined in claim 1 in which the top member includes a peripheral depending fixed wall to which are hinged the end wall sections and side wall main sections associated with said top member to provide a stowage compartment above said sections when the enclosure is collapsed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The structure defined in claim 1 including actuator means connected to at least one of the members and to the pair of end wall sections associated therewith for synchronously adjusting the angle between said one member and each of said end wall sections to expand or collapse the enclosures.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structure defined in claim 15 in which the actuator means includes a crank arm on each of the sections, and cable means connected to both of said arms, and drum means for moving said cable means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The structure defined in claim 1 including spring means connected to the pair of end wall sections associated with one of the members for yieldingly resisting relative angular movement between said sections and said one member from a neutral relative angular position between collapsed and expanded positions of said sections.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure defined in claim 17 including a crank arm on each of the sections and cable means connected to said arms and to both of said arms and to the spring means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3363932A
Cited
US3632153A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |